My Afro

My Afro
Who would have thought growing my own natural hair would be such a mission. I look back to last year when I took the decision that I would no longer put chemicals to strengthen my hair. Little did I know what a tangle I had gotten myself into? One might say no you’re exaggerating; it can be that bad, growing your own God given natural hair. Well I’ve got go news for you.
When I first cut all my straightened hair last year, people at the hair salon thought I was crazy. All I could hear were murmuring sounds or “Is she crazy, I wish she could give me that hair” and words like “Is it her own hair or a weave”. I pretended I didn’t hear a word they were saying; hey I had the freedom to do whatever with my hair.
Now it just happened that weekend I had to go to a friend’s braai with my short (boyish look) and a friend, asked with a smile, “Nomsa you like nice, but you’ll do something for my birthday in two weeks’ time”? And my response was oh yes, you have nothing to worry about girl, I have it all covered up for your birthday. Your guessed right I got it all covered for the occasion.
But my struggle hasn’t been what people had to say, but the actual waking up and saying a little prayer. “God please give me the physical strength to comb my hair, Amen”. Oh yes when I have my Afro I need to say that prayer, for physical strength as my hair requires the muscles. After the job is done and my hair looking all so densely populated in my head I walk with pride and acknowledge the complements from friends and strangers alike. There are techniques I need in order to scratch my head when I feel an itch to scratch my hair, otherwise if I’m not tactful in doing so, big path holes can be seen, allowing myself to become a free walking comedian.
Through all my pain, drama and doubt at times, I love my Afro. It gives me a sense of maturity, accepting the way I look despite how the world expects us to look as black women. I have come to accept that my nicely combed Afro with shrink in the early hours of the morning while having a good time at a party. I have come to accept that I would still need some blow dryer to help me enhance its beauty, and that it’s not for the fain hearted. I appreciate it and don’t take it for granted not even for a minute.